Blind - drarry

Chapter 19

Published: December 23, 2020

Updated: September 30, 2021

Harry helped him pick out appropriate garb for Christmas brunch at the Weasleys and somehow managed to convince him not to wear a jumper or robes, which he hadn't been willing to do last night. He was terrified at what the Weasleys would say about it, but they didn't even bring it up. A few of them did taunt him about their "snogfest" last night and asking who was sore. Draco ignored them and sat next to Harry at the table. Mrs. Weasley patted his head and poured second and third helpings on his plate as her husband asked Harry about mobiles.

After Harry guided him through the "house of a million things to run into", they sat together on a roughly sewn couch. What Draco didn't realize, until people started ladening him with wrapped gifts, was that they were exchanging presents.

"Harry," he whispered, embarrassed and a little angry. "You didn't tell me that... I didn't bring anything! I don't have anything." He knew his face was red. How could Harry not say anything? he thought, resisting the urge to cry.

"Draco, no, don't worry, it's all okay. They didn't spend anything on them, I promise!" he rushed. "No more than five knuts, okay? They knew that you couldn't give them anything. I told them just to give you homemade stuff... things they had. Don't be embarrassed, please! I didn't want to leave you alone, and I didn't want you to be sitting here with no presents on Christmas. I'm sorry, but I couldn't do that!"

Draco took a deep breath and nodded. "But I didn't bring them anything."

"Yeah, you did."

"You bringing gifts for me, doesn't count."

"No, they're from you, made by you."

"What?"

"Remember all those cookies and cakes we made and decorated? We didn't eat them all. I put them under stasis spells and packed them into gift boxes for you."

"You did?" he said, surprised and touched. "Those probably looked terrible, though."

"They tasted wonderful, though, and it's the thought that counts."

"But I didn't think about it."

"Well, I can take back all their presents, if you want," Harry offered.

"Of course not!" he hissed.

"Then you're thinking about them," Harry declared.

Draco sighed, but put on a friendly smile as the rest of the Weasleys had joined them. The gift-opening was fairly uneventful for him. Harry verbally said what everyone got, and they thanked him for his gifts.

Whenever it was his turn, Harry let him tear off the wrapping paper and explained his presents and who they were from. Mrs. Weasley knitted him a Christmas jumper with a D on it. He received some muggle electronic things from Mr. Weasley. Ron got him some more muggle games that he could play, and the rest of the Weasleys gave him an assortment of clothes, hair potions and a fuzzy towel. George Weasley gave him some joke stuff to "mess with people", including a hand buzzer.

Hermione brought hers over directly and placed a heavy present in his hands. "You're going to need this."

"Okay?" he said and tore off the paper. It was a book. "Hermione? I can't... read."

She laughed. "Yeah, you can. Blind muggles can read. It's called Braille. It is a tactile lettering system that will help you read by running your finger across a two by three cell of raised dots. You can read, again, once you learn braille letters, numbers and punctuation. This book will help teach you."

Draco's mouth dropped. "I'll be able to read, again?"

"Yes, Draco. The world will open up to you. There are even spells to change writing and books into Braille so that you can read anything."

His slack-jawed mouth finally closed, and he whispered, "Thank you, Hermione. This means so much to me."

"You're welcome."

Harry squeezed his hand. "It's an amazing gift, Hermione."

"Well, I wasn't going to let you and Ron just give him toys to play with."

"Hey!" Ron and Harry both yelled.

Draco hugged the book reverently. "Games are fun, but if I have access to books, I can still learn."

Harry leaned into him. "And you will. We'll practice it every day until you get it, which I know won't take long, since you're on your fourth Rubik's cube."

"What's a Rubik's cube?" asked Mr. Weasley.

"Hush, Arthur. Harry, why don't you give him your present," Mrs. Weasley said.

Harry handed him a box. "I got you two gifts, but I'll give you the other one at home."

"Is it your co-oww, mum!" George said, and what sounded like a smack.

"Don't be vulgar."

"Sorry, mum."

Draco smiled, though he probably was blushing a little. "Okay," he said, and fiddled with the wrapping paper until it came off. "You didn't spend too much on it?"

"Not a Knut. Well, unless you count the paper I wrapped it in and the box."

Draco rolled his eyes and tried to guess the contents, but the box was about a foot long, a few inches wide and light. There wasn't a clear indication of what it was. He felt for the edges, gently lifted the lid and found a roll of parchment first. He set the box on his lap and unrolled it.

"It's not in Brew-Braille...?" Harry said, probably looking at Hermione. "Braille, so, shall I read it?"

Draco was shaking and held it for him to read.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy has been granted full wizard status and has permission to own a wand and perform magic without any restrictions on his wand. Signed: Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic," Harry said, excitement echoing in every word.

Draco turned his head to Harry's. He couldn't believe it. "Are you... is this true?"

"Hermione filed the request and made sure it was signed off by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and Wizengamot clerk. It's real. Besides, I wouldn't risk you getting in trouble when you hold your present."

Draco looked downward, though he couldn't see. A wand. Harry got him a wand! Tears crept down his face as he reached into the box. It was snug in the fitted slot. His trembling fingers pried it loose, and he gripped the hard wood. Warmth flooded his fingers, and he felt like a part of him had returned, not just having a wand, but this particular one. A familiar connection that he had had for so long.

"It's... it's my wand," he gasped.

"It is, Draco. You didn't think I threw it out? No, I could never do that. It's the reason that we defeated Voldemort, and it's high time that I returned it to you. Thank you for letting me borrow it."

"It remembers me..." he whispered, as he gripped the wand with both hands.

"Give it a wave?" Harry prodded.

"I can't see where I'm aiming."

"Draco, you know spells that doesn't require a target," Harry said. "You can do this. Don't be afraid."

"L-Lumos!" Draco muttered, and he saw his wand light up. "Nox."

"You did it!" Harry cried and hugged him. "I'm so happy for you!"

The Weasleys congratulated him, too, and he wiped his eyes. "Can't really use a lot of spells."

"Please, Draco. I'm sure that you'll be sending Sting Hexes at me and flipping me upside down with Levicorpus in no time," Harry scoffed.

"I did not want to know what you guys do in the bedroom," George chimed in, and there was another smack. "Oww, my ear! My only ear!" he cried out while laughing.

"Oh, shut it you and off you go to do the dishes!" Mrs. Weasley scolded him and told her children and their partners to start cleaning up, too.

Draco lowered his head and felt a little embarrassed. Harry whispered, "No worries, love. Don't take what George does and says personally. He works at a joke shop."

"I see," he said and frowned.

"No, Draco. He only does it to his mates and family, Draco. He's accepted you. He's just rubbing it into you and me, too."

"He is? That doesn't make sense."

"Really, you mean you didn't battle with me all through school because you had a crush on me?"

Draco cringed. "Possibly."

"Sure... but I want you to know that I never told anyone that we... are... umm...."

"I know you, Harry. You wouldn't do that. You're being patient, for once."

"I've been patient on a lot of things!" Harry growled.

"Name one."

"I didn't disembowel your attackers, did I?"

"No, but that's restraint. You ran out the door after them without hardly a second thought."

"Valid point. I think waiting two-plus-months to abduct you counts. But come on, let's go help get dinner ready," Harry said.

However, Mrs. Weasley shooed everyone out of the kitchen to make dinner after the room was cleaned. Harry was told to go fly with his friends, and she invited Draco, and him alone, to help knead the bread loaves with her. Draco agreed, because it didn't seem like it was something he could refuse. She showed him how to get the air out and fold it back and started peeling and cutting potatoes with her wand.

"Isn't there a spell for the bread?" he asked, quietly, as the dough squished between his fingers.

"There is, but it doesn't taste the same if you use magic. It's better, sweeter by hand and you can see the air pockets in the bread when it's cooked. Kneading reminds you that you have to work for good things and, even if there are imperfections, you still eat a wonderful loaf and went through all that work and pain to get there."

Draco looked in her direction and nodded.

She patted his head. "Now, don't you pay attention to George. He's a bit of a jokester. You are always welcome here. Harry's like a son to me and if he loves you, I will love you, too."

"Thank you," he whispered, and they made four loaves and put them baking, and she chatted with him the whole time.

Dinner happened a few hours later and was a loud, rambunctious affair with no order. Draco could get used to this as everyone carried on like he was one of them. He had never had that feeling of having a family before. He loved his mother and maybe his father to a limited degree, but they never made him feel like this. He never wanted to leave this family, leave Harry.

Harry's hand took his under the table and said, "Merry Christmas, Draco."

"Merry Christmas, Harry."